WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY: Cowboys Nuggets

Welcome to WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY. After losing back-to-back games on the road, the Dallas Cowboys head home for a matchup with the 2023 NFC North champion Detroit Lions on Saturday night. It will take another big performance from Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense to earn the team its 11th win of the season. Here are some thoughts (2,600+ words worth) on the road struggles, penalties for and against Micah Parsons, Saturday night at AT&T Stadium, this week’s opponent and more. Let’s get to it.

WHAT’S UP WITH THE ROAD STUMBLES?

If you want to know why the Cowboys have struggled on the road, all you have to do is look at the big plays – a run of 15 or more yards, a pass of 20 or more yards or a turnover – for and against.

It bit the Cowboys on Sunday in Miami, with a fumble by fullback Hunter Luepke on first and goal from the Dolphins 1. It cost the Cowboys at least three points and possibly seven in a game they lost by two in the final moments.

“You clearly have to win that battle,” McCarthy said. “Frankly, they also fall in big plays. You look at the big play in Miami, that was a huge play for them and a missed big play opportunity for us – we felt like we had seven points there.”

The Cowboys are 3-5 on the road so far this season, with one game left in Washington to finish off the regular season schedule. In those five losses the Cowboys have given up 35 big plays, while only coming up with 25 of their own.

In the three wins over the Chargers, Giants and Panthers, the Cowboys have won the big play battle 17-11.

“Anytime the arena is super competitive, then big plays are a factor,” McCarthy said. “When two teams matchup this time of year, there is an understanding of what each team does and what they’re known for and how you want to attack each other. The self-scout part of it is always important, even more so this time of year. So, you have to have big plays to win in the NFL.”

In the last four road losses to San Francisco (10 big plays to 4 for Dallas), Philadelphia (5 big plays to 8), Buffalo (5 big plays to 1) and Miami (6 big plays to 5), the Cowboys have turned the ball over seven times, while only getting one takeaway.

“The ball security is a daily focus for us,” McCarthy said. “On the year, we are taking care of (the football) better.”

Overall, the Cowboys are earning more takeaways than they are allowing – xx to xx in 15 games, and that is something that the Cowboys will have to continue into the playoffs if they want to have success.

WHAT’S UP WITH FLAGGING THE LION?

Cowboys edge Micah Parsons was called for a roughing the passer in Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins that changed the outcome of the game.

“It’s mind blowing the things that are getting called and the positions we are being put in,” Parsons said after Sunday’s loss in Miami. “We just got to learn how to fight adversity. I know a lot of it’s B.S., and these are football plays, but it’s the world we live in. We got the star on the helmet.”

The Cowboys defense played one of their best games of the season against one of the more formidable offenses they could see this season. They held a team that was used to scoring four touchdowns per game, to one and that probably should have been a field goal.

However, Parsons was flagged on a second and one from the Cowboys 9 after hitting Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the back on an incomplete pass.

Parsons, who only took one step after the release of the football before contacting Tagovailoa’s back, was flagged for the sixth time this season.

“Anybody who’s watching, I run so quick how am I supposed to know he got the ball out,” Parsons said. “It’s within a second. I didn’t leave my feet. I didn’t lead with my head. So, I don’t know what a roughing the passer is any more. (The referee) said I could have made some move in some manner to avoid him, but in reality, I ran into (DeMarcus Lawrence). We both met at the quarterback. It’s just hard to play defense.”

Parsons was clearly upset, talking heatedly with the official after the play.

“(The ref) said my intent was to punish the quarterback, but how am I trying to punish if I’m just trying to sack him,” Parsons said. “It’s not like it’s a late hit. It’s not like I’m leaving my feet. I didn’t lead with my head. I don’t know how you make that call. I don’t see no justification. But he said I just tried to punish him. I haven’t gotten a roughing the passer all year. What do I have against Tua to even try to hurt Tua or anything, I’m just trying to get a sack.”

It gave Miami a first and goal from the 4 and Tagovailoa connected with Raheem Mostert on a touchdown pass on the next play.

WHAT’S UP WITH NO FLAG’S DRAWN BY PARSONS?

It has been more than 70 days and 35 quarters of football since Cowboys edge Micah Parsons has drawn a penalty against the opposition.

The lack of calls is beginning to frustrate the Cowboys All-Pro, but not something that is seen as a distraction.

“I don’t see a young man worrying about it in his preparation, he’s competing during the game,” McCarthy said. “I think these conversations that happen after the fact, I think are products of today’s industry. I don’t see it as an issue.”

It may not be an issue, but it is frustrating for a player that has been clearly held on numerous occasions over the last eight games and has been called for three of his own penalties.

“That’s frustrating in itself,” said Parsons, who has 97 recorded quarterback pressures this season – 13 sacks, 19 quarterback hits and 65 quarterback hurries. “I can’t get a call, but I get things called on me. So, obviously they (are) looking, they just don’t care what they call as long as it’s not for us. At the end of the day, we have to win these types of games.”

WHAT’S UP WITH SATURDAY NIGHT?

It will be a big night for the Cowboys on Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

In the 63 years of Dallas Cowboys football, the team has played on Saturday just 46 times – including 15 playoff games. The Cowboys are 25-21 on Saturday and 5-5 in night games on 10 of those games.

But this season, not only is the team still battling for the No. 2 spot in the NFC playoffs, but they also face off against a team they are in that battle with. They are still trying to earn that magical 11th win, which head coach Mike McCarthy set as the goal before the season started.

Add to it that former head coach Jimmy Johnson is finally being enshrined in Cowboys history, and there is a lot going on with game No. 16 on the Cowboys schedule.

“We have been talking about getting to 11 wins, and we’re still not there,” McCarthy said. “We understand what our opponent is fighting for this week, and it creates a lot of juice for this game. Coach Jimmy Johnson is going into the Ring of Honor, so this is going to be a great contest that we look forward to. Just like anything, you have to take care of what’s in front of you. We can’t control what’s going on in Philadelphia or these other places, as we know. We just want to be much better than we were last week, that’s the reality of this.”

A win and the Cowboys are also still in the chase for the NFC East title and an all-important home playoff game.

WHAT’S UP WITH THE LIONS RUN GAME?

The Cowboys run defense is going to face another formidable challenge on Saturday night when they face off against Detroit.

The Lions running attack have two backs approaching 1,000 yards rushing this season. Lead back David Montgomery, who is the speed back, has 910 yards rushing on 195 carries. He is averaging 4.7 yards per carry, with a long of 75 yards, three plays of 20-plus yards and 11 touchdowns. He also has 16 catches for 117 yards.

When they want a change of pace, the Lions will go to Jahmyr Gibbs. The rookie has 872 yards on 154 carries, is averaging 5.7 yards per carry with long of 36 yards, 10 runs of 20-plus yards and nine touchdowns. He also has 51 receptions for 316 yards and one touchdown in the Lions passing attack.

Montgomery has three 100-plus rushing performances this season – 121 yards against Green Bay, 109 yards against Carolina and 116 yards against the Chargers, while Gibbs has two games with over 100 yards rushing this year – 152 yards against the Raiders and 100 yards against Denver.

WHAT’S UP WITH WRAPPING UP?

Since Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn arrive in 2021, the Dallas defense has he second-fewest missed tackles (324), behind only New England (316) per Pro Football Focus.

In 2023, the Cowboys have missed just 93 tackles – which includes 14 in the loss at Buffalo, and that is the fewest in the NFL. They are followed by Philadelphia (100), New Orleans (108), Kansas City (109), New England (110) and Detroit (110).

WHAT’S UP WITH THE SECONDARY?

Dallas is tied for 13th in the NFL with 13 interceptions and 62 pass break ups.

Opposing quarterbacks have struggled against the Cowboys secondary, as Dallas’ 82.4 passer rating against ranks sixth in the NFL.

When targeted, second-year cornerback DaRon Bland, who leads the Cowboys with eight interceptions, has allowed a passer rating of just 46.5, which is third among NFL cornerbacks who have been targeted with at least 40 attempts this season.

Bland has been credited with 14 pass break ups, which is seventh in the league behind only San Francisco’s Charvarius Ward (22), Jacksonville’s Darious Williams (19) Washington’s Benjamin St-Juste (17), Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon (16), New Orleans’ Paulson Adebo (16) and Philadelphia’s Darius Slay (15).

Bland’s play earned him the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November, his first career player of the month award. It is the Cowboys second defensive POTM this season, after Micah Parsons won the award for the month of September.

WHAT’S UP WITH LAMB’S PRODUCTION?

Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb continues to climb up the franchise records book with his 2023 season.

Lamb currently leads the NFL with 109 receptions this season and needs just three catches over the final two games to pass Michael Irvin (111 in 1995) for the most receptions in a season in Cowboys history.

Lamb’s 1,424 yards receiving this season ranks second in the NFL to Miami’s Tyreek Hill (1,641 yards) and is the third best receiving season in franchise history. He needs just 100 yards to pass Irvin (1,523 in 1991) for the second-most receiving yards in a season in team history.

Lamb also has scored a touchdown in seven straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL. With a touchdown against the Lions, Lamb would become the first Cowboys receiver to record a TD in eight consecutive games. With a touchdown reception, Lamb would also set a career-high in TD catches with 10. The last Cowboys player with double-digit touchdown receptions in a season was Dez Bryant (16) in 2014.

WHAT’S UP WITH JIMMY’S INDUCTION?

It only took 30 years, but former Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson is going into the Cowboys Ring of Honor at halftime of Saturday night’s game against Detroit.

Johnson, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 7, 2021, was named the first Cowboys head coach under then new owner Jerry Jones in 1989. In five seasons with the Cowboys, Johnson guided the team to two Super Bowl championships. In his first season in Dallas, Johnson’s team finished 1-15, then 7-9 in 1990 before making a return to the playoffs with an 11-5 finish in 1991. Johnson was named NFL Coach of the Year by the Associated Pres following the 1990 season. Johnson’s 1992 team finished with a franchise-record 13 wins en route to the NFC Conference Championship and subsequent return to the Super Bowl, capping the season with a 52-17 win over the Bills in Super Bowl XXVII. The following season, Dallas returned to the Super Bowl, after ending the year with a 12-4 record, earning a rematch with the Bills in Super Bowl XXVIII. Dallas won its fourth championship, handing Buffalo a 30-13 loss. Johnson compiled a 44-36 regular season record (.550 winning percentage) and a 7-1 postseason mark with the Cowboys. He coached 10 Pro Bowlers who earned a combined 22 Pro Bowls in his five seasons with the club. Five of his players became Hall of Famers following their careers: Troy Aikman, Larry Allen, Charles Haley, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith.

With Johnson’s name added, the Cowboys Ring of Honor will officially include 24 of the franchise’s greatest players – Aikman (Inducted in 2005), Allen (2011), Gil Brandt (2018), Tony Dorsett (1994), Haley (2011), Cliff Harris (2004), Bob Hayes (2001), Chuck Howley (1977), Irvin (2005), Lee Roy Jordan (1989), Tom Landry (1993), Bob Lilly (1975), Don Meredith (1976), Drew Pearson (2011), Don Perkins (1976), Mel Renfro (1981), Tex Schramm (2003), Smith (2005), Roger Staubach (1983), DeMarcus Ware (2023), Randy White (1994), Darren Woodson (2015) and Rayfield Wright (2004).

WHAT’S UP WITH A FEW QUICK HITS?

The Cowboys are averaging a league-high 39.9 points per game at home this season. That is the third-highest home scoring average since the NFL merger, trailing only New Orleans (41.1 in 2011) and Green Bay (40.1 in 2011). … Kicker Brandon Aubrey extended his NFL record for field goals made without a miss to start a career to 33 against Miami. It gave him 141 points in the 2023 season, which leads the NFL and is the most kicking points scored in Cowboys history. … CeeDee Lamb became just the sixth wide receiver in NFL history to surpass 5,000 yards from scrimmage in his first four seasons in the league, joining Jerry Rice, Torry Holt, Randy Moss, Michael Thomas and Justin Jefferson. … The Cowboys offense ranks first in the league in 10-play drives with 44 this season. … Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson, who has 833 yards receiving this season, needs just 26 yards to pass Billy Joe Dupree (858) for the second-most receiving yards by a Cowboys tight end in his first two seasons.

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NEXT OPPONENT: WHAT’S UP WITH THE LIONS?

The Lions are now 11-4 and roll into Dallas on Saturday night having already clinched the NFC North title, for the first time since the 1991 season, and still in the hunt for the top seed in the NFC for the upcoming postseason. They will need to beat Dallas and Minnesota over the final two weeks and get some help from the opponents of San Francisco and Philadelphia. They are led by quarterback Jared Goff, who has thrown for 3,984 yards while leading the Lions to 11 victories. He has completed 67.7-percent of his passes, while throwing for 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has one of the top wide receivers in Amon-Ra St. Brown, who has 106 catches for 1,281 yards with 20 catches of 20-yards or more and eight touchdowns, and top tight ends in Sam LaPorta (74 catches for 776 yards and nine touchdowns) in the game to throw to. With running backs David Montgomery (910 yards on 195 carries) and Jahmyr Gibbs (872 yards on 154 carries), the Lions offense is one of the best in the league this season. Defensively, the Lions are led by defensive end Aiden Hutchinson (42 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss), linebacker Alex Anzalone (112 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 6 pass break ups) and safety Kerby Joseph (71 tackles, 4 interceptions, 10 pass break ups). Overall, they are just the 15th ranked defense in the league, giving up 325.5 yards per game and 23.7 points.